title: Using a brief 10-item generic measure of quality of life in English and Spanish speaking diabetic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Validation of the Multicultural Quality of Life Index (MQLI), a 10-item self-rated generic multilingual quality of life (QOL) measure in ethnically-diverse diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diabetic adult patients (n = 180) in New York City completed the MQLI, English or Spanish version. Its internal consistency, factorial structure, and construct validity were analyzed. Depression screening (PHQ-9) scores were used to divide subjects into two sub-samples with presumed different QOL levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A Cronbach's alpha of 0.92 demonstrated its internal consistency (English-version = 0.90, Spanish-version = 0.94). A one-single factor structure was documented (all items loadings > or = 0.64), accounting for 59% of the items variance in the total sample; similar results were found for each language version. Correlation of the MQLI and PHQ-9 scores yielded an r = -0.58. Mild negative correlations with self-disclosed diagnosis of depression or other mental disorders, diabetes duration, and abnormal sensation on foot exam were found, but were non-significant with other diabetes aspects (e.g., HbA1c, retinopathy). A significant difference (p < 0.001) between the scores of two subsamples with presumed different levels of QOL (means = 8.02 vs. 5.84) was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MQLI demonstrated coherence around the QOL concept. It correlated significantly with mental health (particularly depression), duration of diabetes, and possible neuropathy, but not with some diabetes-related factors. Its use in diabetic care settings is recommended, possibly supplemented by QOL diabetic-specific instruments.
authors.affiliation: Elmhurst Hospital Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York 11373, USA. maria.zapata@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Zapata-Vega
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tarlin
authors.forename: Inci
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bijan
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maurer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D019303:Multilingualism; D009519:New York City; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult